28 November 2008
	PROFILES NOTA BENE

Type of agency - Media Ownership - 70% WPP; 30% Memeza Holdings Key person - Ryan Williams Budgets - R1,95bn Accounts gained - 6 Accounts lost - 1 Total clients - 37 Number of staff - 64 Equity - 30% Biggest client - Unilever Another good year for Nota Bene. It has broadened its services and now consults to clients at the communications planning and brand planning level. It's the ninth consecutive year of significant business growth. Overall revenue is up 39% and bottom-line profit by 20% and 17 new strategists and planners have been hired. However, the agency plans not to pursue new business as aggressively as in the past. Given the industry's skills shortage, it won't take on new business it may not be able to handle. "At the same time, taking on too much also burns out staff, which undermines our ability to deliver A-grade work." It speaks well when existing substantial clients consolidate their business with you - Unilever and Brandhouse both did that with Nota Bene last year. It also picked up Virgin Active, Edcon, PNet and Cadbury's chocolate. The one loss was Mini. The biggest accounts are Unilever, Nedbank, Brandhouse, Edcon and Famous Brands.